John Lennon at Tittenhurst Park, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot,
Berkshire

Tittenhurst Park

This Tittenhurst Park blog is dedicated to John Lennon's home in Sunningdale, near Ascot, Berkshire between 1969 and 1971. The aim is to gather as much material relating to the estate as possible - obviously with the emphasis on the Lennon-era, but also concerning Tittenhurst Park as it was before and after John Lennon's ownership. In addition, there will be posts about and associated with the Beatles, plus any other rubbish I feel like. The blog is purely meant for the entertainment of anyone (assuming there is actually anyone) who, like me, has an unhealthy interest in one particular Georgian mansion. Those with anything interesting to contribute in the way of links, photos, scans, stories etc. please do contact me: tittenhurstlennon@gmail.com(Legal: this blog is strictly non-commercial. All material is the property of the photographer/artist/copyright holder concerned. Any such who wishes a picture etc to be removed should contact me and I will do so. Alternatively, if someone is happy to see their photo on here, but would like a credit/link then let me know and I'll be happy to provide one). Enjoy!

Wednesday

John Lennon signing Double Fantasy for Mark David Chapman on 8th December 1980

A parole board has decided not to release Chapman after interviewing him on Tuesday by teleconference at Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York. It was Chapman's sixth appearance before the board since becoming eligible for parole in 2000. He will be eligible again in 2012. After Tuesday's decision, the board wrote to Chapman that it remains concerned about "the disregard you displayed for the norms of our society and the sanctity of human life when, after careful planning, you traveled to New York for the sole purpose of killing John Lennon." The panel said "release remains inappropriate at this time and incompatible with the welfare of the community." Among those who have opposed his release is John's now 77-year-old widow, Yoko Ono, who said last month that she believed Chapman is a potential threat to her family and perhaps himself.

The former maintenance man from Hawaii was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after firing five shots outside The Dakota building on Dec. 8, 1980, killing John. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. At his last parole hearing, in 2008, Chapman told the panel he was ashamed and sorry for what he had done and had since developed a deeper understanding of the value of a human life. He said he had been seeking notoriety and fame to counter feelings of failure. After that interview, parole officials noted that Chapman had not been disciplined in prison since 1994 and said he had adjusted to his incarceration. But they denied release "due to concern for the public safety and welfare," according to the written decision. Chapman was informed of the panel's most recent finding a few hours after the hearing. The state Division of Parole is expected to release a transcript of the interview within the next several days. John would have turned 70 this October.

Yoko's lawyer Peter Shukat told a newspaper that Yoko was "very pleased" to hear of the decision to keep Chapman incarcerated.